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As our country continues to mourn and heal from Arizona’s inexplicable violence, we are reminded of the timeless and transcendental teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, whose life and legacy is remembered this Monday, Jan. 17, 2011.

Dr. King’s commemoration could not come at a more appropriate time. Arizona’s violence is a sad reminder of the culture of violence that pervades this country and propagates such actions, manifesting in a myriad of ways, be it by pistol, pen, podium or a policy.

Dr. King spent and ultimately sacrificed his life seeking to transform our culture of violence. At the height of foreign and domestic conflict – whether it was our war with Vietnam or our nation’s racial and economic inequalities – Dr. King preached peace, promoted equality and shook the structures of segregation with love, not violence.

Dr. King’s compelling and unequivocal commitment to non-violent resistance sparked a movement that campaigned civil rights, justice, equality and human dignity for all. This is a movement for which we must continue to advocate and protect.

As we remember Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, we must not shy away from our community commons in light of Arizona’s violence. We must face the fear, which violence propagates, with courage and compassion and an unwavering commitment to making our speech, our streets, and our systems, less violent.

Now more than ever, America must work to ensure Dr. King’s Dream becomes reality: Americans of all ethnicities and creeds living together with dignity and hope.

Admiring Dr. King’s life is not enough; we must live his legacy as well. Let us honor his life by working together to continue to build an America where every child can safely and securely enjoy the privileges of equal opportunity and freedom.

I once spent Martin Luther King’s birthday in jail. On Jan. 15, 1991 thousands of San Franciscans protested the Gulf War. A first year law student and legal observer for protesters at the Burton Federal Building, I ended up getting arrested along with them and spent a few hours in lockup. We spent most of our time in the cell singing songs of peace including “Happy Birthday Dear Martin” and Stevie Wonder’s MLK tribute “Happy Birthday To You”.

When I got home there was a message on my answering tape: “It’s Mom. Are you in jail? Did you make it out in time to go to class? We are here [in Congress] working for a peaceful resolution. I hope you all were protesting for peace in a non-violent way. Call me after your class.” Later she was relieved to learn that the charges were dismissed, and I was released in time to attend Contracts class. Every MLK holiday since, I’ve reflect on the lessons of that Martin Luther King birthday: protest violence with non-violence; respect your commitment to peace by acting with peace; and, don’t skip school.

This weekend, I’ll take my baby daughter to our community’s MLK activity and hear Dr. King’s lessons about protesting injustice with nonviolence. We will stand in solidarity with millions of Americans who recommit to unity and service, pay tribute to victims and heroes of Arizona’s horrific killings, and vow to be better people. And now that this MLK reflection is permalinked on the web, I’m confident that years from now my daughter will be emailing me a copy from her peaceful protest of choice.

Ken FeltmanChairman Radnor Inc.; Past president of the International Association of Political Consultants :

Who runs China?

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was in China for discussions with Chinese President Hu Jintao and others. Suddenly, the news came that China's military had just tested a stealth fighter jet. Hu told Gates that he was unaware of the test.

Question 1: Was Hu really not informed by the Chinese military? Question 2: Did the military conduct the test while Gates and Hu were meeting as a show of military might? Question 3: Who really controls the military?

Gates chalked it up to a mistake within the Chinese bureaucracy. The Chinese political leadership is composed of many older, cautious men. The military is populated by younger men who want to prove themselves. A disconnect or rivalry between the political and military leaders of China may embolden young officers to taunt American military units. That could lead to disaster.

The first step for the U.S. must be to determine who runs China. Perhaps the answer is that Hu runs the government but not the military. That is a worrying answer.

The misrepresentations and predictions of apocalypse generated by the decision are remarkable because the decision was so obviously correct as a matter of constitutional law, and because November’s elections demonstrate its wisdom.

Remember that the U.S. government argued that it had the right to prohibit the publication or distribution of a 500 page book with even one line of candidate advocacy, if any corporation was involved (think Michael Moore's "Dude, Where's My Country," published by Time Warner Books and distributed by Barnes & Noble); to prevent a union from hiring a writer to produce a pamphlet supporting pro-labor candidates; to prohibit political books, such as Bill Press’s "Bush Must Go," from being distributed through Amazon's Kindle; and to prohibit the production and distribution of movies such as "Fahrenheit 9/11" and "I Want Your Money" by corporations such as Tri-Star and AMC. The government claimed this power extended not only to for-profit corporations, but to non-profit corporations such as the Sierra Club, the NRA, your local Chamber of Commerce, or local humane society. Few critics of Citizens United wish to discuss the alternative vision of an empty First Amendment guided only by the whims of bureaucrats and those in power.

In practice, Citizens United worked. The elections of 2010 illustrate the benefits of a freer political marketplace. The campaign was one of the most issue-oriented in memory. More races were competitive than in any election since before the Federal Election Campaign Act was passed. In terms of equality, Citizens United helped to dramatically reduce the enormous spending advantage enjoyed by Democrats and allied groups (through Democrats and allies still outspent Republicans and allies).

The doomsayers were wrong - the First Amendment works. Even in politics.

Tom Genin (guest)
CT:

Martin Luther King, Jr, longed for the day when his chiildren would, "not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." So I'd like to point out that even the progeny of and oppressed people, once enslaved and illiterate, had the sense to point out that character matters. The rhetoric politicians espouse is far less a problem in all our lives than the policies they pursue. Keep your eyes on the ball.

Kenneth Wills (guest)
TX:

After conservatives issued "Second Amendment remedies" as an instruction manual for how to solve political differences, they do not want to take responsability for their words. The question has been: is it fair to hold them accountable? Absolutely. Calling for gun violence because you do not want liberals in control of government is, by definition, anti-American rhetoric no different than what conservatives routinely condemn from foriegn sources.

Lee (MMBJack) McCarty (guest)
NV:

Kenneth Wills (guest) got it just right, Bradley Smith got it just wrong, what a contrast that Ken's character and honest conviction vs. the right wing ideology line makes here today. Who could support the Citizens United SCOTUS that has sold out individual freedoms - the basic defense from money control of our political and social establishment by the anonymous directions coming from the secretive but clearly there billionaire ideologues.

Mike Rappeport (guest)
NJ:

Along with the proper climate of politics and availability of guns, Arizona also talks to another issue. Every health care provider’s response was to treat first, leaving any discussion of payment for later. While that is of course how it should be, it is unlike any other service or product. Nothing makes clearer why health care is different, and why mandating that everyone have health care coverage is fair, appropriate. And constitutional.

Lorenzo Davenport (guest)
GA:

After a week of politicians/pundits calling for civility in all things, a bit of reflection is in order. The Democrats have had their way in Congress for two years. The Pelosi/Reid one/two punch has gotten, in a brutal way, much of the left's agenda, especially with health care. All of this going against most polls showing resistance from the voters. One can only hope that the toxicity will change enough to allow the people's will to prevail.

Jeffrey L Minch (guest)
TX:

Jobs is job no 1! What has the leadership of this country done to create jobs since the advent of the New Year? Glad to hear that the president is opening his campaign office. Maybe that's the real jobs program? Get ready for some truly horrific jobs info in Q1 2011.

Scott Piazza (guest)
PA:

Attempts to limit political discourse, one of the things that make American democracy great, by saying that rhetoric rather than the delusions of a single, deranged individual was responsible for the tragedy in Tuscon merely shows contempt for free political discourse. Is this what Dr. King would want to see among those who so readily invoke his name? I most certainly think not; many people, here and elsewhere, should be ashamed of themselves.

Bill Bridges (guest)
FL:

The military may indeed run China's military, but any thoughts military leaders have about changing the situation in China will butt into a new great wall called President Hu. Hu has the overwhelming support of the people, who regard him with reverential awe for his many accomplishments in modernizing the government, industry, and the economy. He is considered personally responsible for lifting China to its current world leadership position.

Jeannine LaRue (guest)
NJ:

Sarah Palin: It's true that she had nothing to do with it, but she apparently thought she did! Hence, she immediately took down the map from her website and issued a "politically" correct condolence statement. She went on the defensive quickly and aggressively the first day of the tragedy. Then, she stupidly tried to upstage the president with her ridiculous video. Palin made herself look guilty doing something she didn't do!

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